7:33 PM, August 8, 2013

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the county charter allows him to appoint.

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Macomb County commissioners today rejected Executive Mark Hackel’s pick for the county’s chief legal counsel — the first time commissioners have failed to confirm a Hackel appointee.

Some commissioners were concerned the board wasn’t part of the process to select a new corporation counsel. Others thought the appointee, Gabriel Orzame Jr., lacked municipal experience.

“This is another roadblock put forth by the commission that I will figure out how to get around,” Hackel said after the 7-4 vote. Two commissioners were absent.

Hackel said the county charter allows the executive to appoint and the board to confirm.

Commission Chairman David Flynn said he believes the process should start over and include the board.

“There’s consequences to not being inclusive,” he said.

Hackel said he will include the board in the selection process if the board is “willing to give up their part at the end at confirmation.”

Commissioners peppered Orzame with questions during an interview at a full board meeting today — five days after he and interim Corporation Counsel Ralph (Skip) Maccarone were introduced at a meet-and-greet at the county administrative building attended by at least 100 people that also marked the retirement of former Corporation Counsel George Brumbaugh.

“I don’t have any comment at this time,” Orzame said after the vote. “I went through the process, and they made their decision.”

The selection process included a panel that interviewed four of the 47 applicants. The panel included Assistant County Executive Al Lorenzo, Deputy County Executive Mark Deldin, Human Resources and Labor Relations Director Eric Herppich, Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Chief Circuit Judge John Foster.